Q: I'm a girl, and I have a non-Muslim friend who is also a girl. She has a private instagram account and sometimes she posts pictures, and some of them are of herself. Is it permissible for me to like these posts, or to comment that she looks nice, or to comment at all on the posts? Or is it not permissible for me to engage with her posts at all?
A: All pictures of animate objects are declared haraam in islam and they earn the wrath of Allah Ta'ala. Hence it is not permissible for you to view the pictures of your friend on instagram as you will be involved in sin and supporting the sin.
There are severe warnings sounded in the mubaarak Ahaadith for those who get involved in the sin of picture making. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The people to be inflicted with the worst punishment will be the picture makers." Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed the one who receives interest, the one who gives interest, the tattooist, the tattooed and the picture maker. The hadeeth also explains that the angels of mercy do not enter a home in which there is a picture of an animate object.
It is for this reason that shariah has prohibited befriending the kuffaar and associating with Muslims who are not committed to deen and who are not deeni conscious. Through associating with such people one will begin to compromise in deeni matters and get involved in sin.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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